Precis: NCBFAA's President describes what the Association has done to shape the industry's future during the past year -- working with CBP to construct ACE; evolving the relationships with the PGAs that assume a much greater role in our businesses; addressing the efficiencies of our ports; generating an export-focus in the federal trade agencies; and ensuring that regulation does not constrain our ability to compete. Look to this presentation and the balance of the GAC program for what your Association sees as our challenges for the future.

Speaker:Geoffrey C. Powell, C.H. Powell Co., NCBFAA President

8:50 a.m. to 9:20 a.m.Columbia

A FMC Commissioner's Perspective on Port Efficiency and Congestion

Precis: FMC Commissioner Rebecca Dye has long favored a hands-off approach to federal regulation of the maritime industries. Recently, she has organized, under the auspices of the FMC, "Business Innovation Teams," among whom she has formed three working groups to develop practical business solutions for such issues as efficiency and congestion at the port. Included are all sectors of the port community. Hear about this and other emerging transportation issues.

Precis: Trade has been a major focus of the new administration -- modernizing NAFTA, withdrawing from TPP, reducing trade deficits and protecting the economy against predatory trade practices. How does Congress feel about these priorities? Where does CBP fit in? Learn about the on-coming trade activity on the Hill from two representatives of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees.

Panel:

Blake Harden, U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways & Means

Precis:Valuable time can be spent reviewing the issues that you will discuss during your visits preparing you to put the best foot forward on behalf of your company and your industry. This sessions goal is to answer your questions, help you articulate complex subjects in an understandable way and prepare you to respond to divergent viewpoints and open-ended questions.

Presenters:

Jon Kent, Kent & O'Connor, Inc., NCBFAA Legislative Counsel

Jerry Becnel, J. W. Allen & Co., Inc., NCBFAA GAC Chair

Charles Riley, John A. Steer Co., NCBFAA Legislative Committee Chair

10:40 a.m. to 10:55 a.m.Columbia

Networking Break

10:55 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.Columbia

NCBFAA Perspective on CBP's Regulatory and Trade Policy

Precis: As our industry’s relationship with CBP evolves, our increasing inter-dependency allows us to explore the more nuanced issues of our collaboration. Join us for a robust discussion of the hot topics of the customs arena.

ASAPRA: The Shared Vision of Our Latin and South American Counterparts

Precis: The Association of Professional Customs Brokers of the Americas (ASPARA) is a vehicle for our colleagues in the Western Hemisphere to discuss common issues and, where necessary, work with our respective governments in a common direction. This portion of the program will introduce the organization and outline major issues in Central and South America that will be of interest to attendees.

Speaker: Alfonso Rojas González de Castilla, ASAPRA President

Introduced by: Federico "Kiko" Zuniga, NEI Executive Director

12:00 p.m. to 12:10 p.m.Columbia

Networking Break (Transition to Lunch Room)

12:10 p.m. to 1:40 p.m.Capitol

Lunch
Report from the Acting Commissioner

Precis: Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan is a longtime ally of fair and free trade interests and NCBFAA is excited to welcome him to our first Government Affairs Conference as CBP’s number one. We look forward to a lively update on moving trade forward as we move toward the end of the administration’s first year in office.

Precis: The Department of Commerce is continuing the path of export promotion with their latest initiative, the public private partnership "Getting to Global (GtG)," that NCBFAA is proud to be a part of. This talk will include an update on the administration's export plans and initiatives, a GtG overview and a road map to where our industry can keep trade moving.

Precis: The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been the operating system for trade between the U.S., Canada and Mexico since 1994. Rhetoric has evolved from eliminating NAFTA altogether to "modernizing" the treaty so that it can adapt to changes in trade from 2018 and beyond. NAFTA negotiations are underway from mid-August and hold center stage on the Hill and in the new Administration. See how the negotiation process works and what we can expect.

Precis: After a tempestuous period, commerce at the ports has entered a new phase -- avoiding the crises of the past and improving the efficiency of our maritime operations. There are differing views on how to accomplish this that affect business, labor, carriers, shippers and the intermediaries that constitute NCBFAA's membership.

The Food and Drug Administration and Its Growing Significance to Trade

Precis: As the Partner Government Agencies have joined ACE, a lion's share of the attention has been focused on the Food and Drug Administration. Opening the way into automation, reorganization and culture change has created big challenges for the Trade and for FDA leadership. Our industry has engaged in unprecedented dialogue with the agency, much to our mutual benefit.

Precis: With the passage of TFTEA and the increas of de minimis from $200 to $800, CBP has been confronted with a range of difficult questions: how will CBP manage the increased number of individual importations? How will they refer data, if appropriate, to specific PGAs? How can CBP apply its targeting technology? What are the business implications for brokers and will the playing field be leveled?

Panel:

Amy Magnus, A.N. Deringer, Inc., NCBFAA Vice President

Cindy Allen, FedEx Trade Networks, Transport & Brokerage

Jim Swanson, CBP, Director of Cargo, Office of Field Operations

Michael Walsh, CBP, Office of Trade

Moderator: Mary Jo Muoio, Geodis, NCBFAA Customs Committee Chair

5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Congressional B

Drawback Committee Meeting

6:00 p.m.

Dinner on Your Own

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.Capitol

Breakfast CBP Office of Trade Initiatives: A Report to NCBFAA?(Please be prompt. Breakfast service ends once presentation begins)

Precis: For customs brokers, the future often rides on policy decisions made at CBP's Office of Trade: the long-awaited broker regulations, e-Commerce, ACE, to name but a few. This session, moderated and organized by Executive Assistant Commissioner Brenda Smith, features those immediately responisble for those important policy determinations.